MEET OUR Accessible Communication Technicians

DBI is honored to have generous support and consultation from the diverse spectrum of the DeafBlind community. Members of the Accessible Communication Technicians team (ACT) have volunteered their time to help to ensure that DBI online content is accessible to people who have combined hearing and vision loss and use assistive technology to access online resources. You can learn more about each of them below:

Jeri Cooper

"I was born in Tulsa Oklahoma and attended the Oklahoma School for the Blind in Muskogee where I graduated in 1976. I enjoy bowling and baseball and football. My passion is to help individuals who are deaf-blind as I am totally blind and severely hearing impaired and understand the challenges and successes of everyday living.​"

Tara Invidiato

TARA Invidiato, Deafblind and a Braille display user hails from New Jersey. An Anthropologist graduate from Bloomsburg University and Education from Concordia University of Portland, Oregon. She pursued her career a Professor teaching several courses relating to the art of ASL, Deaf Culture and Interpreting Theatre Arts. She is also the current webmaster and one of the Board Directors for American Association of the DeafBlind. During her free time, Tara trains SSPS on the side. As an advocate for DB CAN NJ, she is known to say: "One small step for a DeafBlind, one huge leap for the DeafBlind community"

​Coby Livingstone

"I have a certificate in Elementary Education (K-8).Native of Michigan and current resident of Albuquerque, NM. Owner of private practice in Occupational Therapy, with emphasis on Vision Rehabilitation Therapy with older blind individuals. Active in opportunities for policy making. Graduate of Western Michigan University in Kalamazoo. Enjoy all kinds of music, travel and family activities..

Mary Ellen Marmo

"I am a private tutor and home instructor. Despite my challenges, sight and hearing impaired, I am productive at age 70. I have retinitis pugnentosa and wear 2 cochlear implants."

Sarah McMillen

"I am an aspiring PTASL educator. I want to teach PTASL to all members of DeafBlind community, from birth to the elders! DeafBlind folks' language is PTASL, we will build a stronger community together with interpreters to become comfortable with the philosophy, attitude, and language of PTASL."

Ryan Odland

Ryan Odland is an Outreach Consultant representing deaf-blind stakeholders with the Colorado Commission for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing. Prior to working at the Commission, Ryan was a Regional Representative serving two regions with Helen Keller National Center. Ryan, who is deaf-blind with Usher syndrome, holds a bachelor degree in psychology from Rochester Institute of Technology and a master degree in deaf education from Gallaudet University, where he taught a course on the methodological applications of the deaf-blind experience. He has advocated for deaf-blind awareness and program development at local, state and national levels.​

Marissa Gold

Photo and bio coming soon!

Interested in joining our team? Contact us! You can reach us at dbi@wou.edu.

DBI envisions a world that celebrates the life and culture of DeafBlind persons, a world where DeafBlind people have influence and control over their destiny and dreams.

Federal Disclaimer: The contents of this website were developed under a grant from the Department of Education. However, those contents do not necessarily represent the policy of the Department of Education, and you should not assume endorsement by the Federal government.

Header image credit: "Deaf-Blind Camp of Maryland Visits NASA Goddard" by NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, used under CC BY / Color altered from originalRSA Grant H160D160005. The DeafBlind Interpreting National Training & Resource Center grant at Western Oregon University is funded from 2017 to 2021 by the U.S. Department of Education RSA CFDA #84.160D, Training of Interpreters for Individuals Who Are Deaf and Individuals Who Are DeafBlind.